Method of packet switched handover

ABSTRACT

A method of packet switched handover in a mobile communication system comprising a terminal, a source node and a destination node comprises negotiating protocol parameters for the destination node on behalf of a new network entity, by communicating with an old network entity whilst the terminal is still connected to the source node; and completing the packet switched handover, such that service interruption on handover is reduced.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.10/592,356, filed on Jul. 11, 2007, which is based on and hereby claimspriority to PCT Application No. PCT/GB2005/000697 filed Feb. 24, 2005,Great Britain Application No. 0405389.8 filed on Mar. 11, 2004 and GreatBritain Application No. 0414717.9 filed on Jul. 1, 2004, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of packet switched handover in amobile communication system, in particular for 2nd and 3rd generationmobile phone systems, using general packet radio service (GPRS).

Packet Switched (PS) handover is a relatively new topic in Global Systemfor Mobile communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) requiring new mechanisms in the RANand Core Network. PS handover requires low PS service interruptiontimes, preferably less than 200 ms. In the case of inter-SGSN handoverthe new SGSN (serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node)may not be able, or may not want, to support the same set of parametersfor the data protocols. In the case of GERAN, these are the Sub-networkDependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP) and logical link control (LLC)protocols. In this case, a negotiation procedure takes place between themobile and the SGSN after it establishes itself in the new cell afterhandover. During this procedure PS data cannot be received by the mobilethus increasing the PS service interruption time.

If new LLC/SNDCP parameters need to be negotiated for the mobile in thenew cell, the target SGSN must initiate the procedure by sending anexchange identification (XID) command to the mobile. This can only becarried out when the SGSN knows that the mobile has successfully madeaccess in the target cell by receiving the PS handover complete messageas shown in FIG. 1. At this point the target SGSN can send the XIDcommand to the mobile which in turn sends an XID response back to thetarget SGSN. Only when the XID response is received can the target SGSNstart to relay downlink protocol data units (PDUs) to the mobile. Thisprocedure causes a further two round trip times (mobile to SGSN andback) to be added to the service interruption time, which isundesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor proposes a method of packet switched handover in a mobilecommunication system comprising a terminal, a source node and adestination node comprises negotiating protocol parameters for thedestination node on behalf of a new network entity, by communicatingwith an old network entity whilst the terminal is still connected to thesource node; and completing the packet switched handover, such thatservice interruption on handover is reduced.

According to the method most, if not all, of the negotiation procedureis conducted before the mobile moves to the new cell, thus considerablyreducing the service interruption time.

Preferably, the negotiation of protocol parameters comprises includingan exchange identification data command in a packet switched handoverrequest.

Preferably, the exchange identification data command is packed in atarget to source transparent container at a target base station,transferred to a source base station, unpacked and sent in a packetswitched handover command to the terminal.

As a packet switched handover request is not always present,alternatively, the negotiation of protocol parameters comprisesincluding an exchange identification data command in a packet switchedhandover command and continuing downlink data transfer before the packetswitched handover is complete.

Preferably, a packet switched exchange identification response is sentfrom the terminal to a source base station and thence to the sourcenode; and relayed to the destination node, such that downlink datatransfer continues. Typically, the source node is an SGSN.

Preferably, a start time for the terminal to access a target cell in thepacket switched handover command is delayed. This has the effect offurther reducing the down time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows an example of conventional packet switched handover in amobile communication system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first example of a method of packet switchedhandover in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;and,

FIG. 3 illustrates a second example of a method of packet switchedhandover in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional steps for inter-SGSN packet switched(PS) handover XID procedure after access to a target cell. A source basestation 1 sends a PS handover command 2 to a mobile station 3. Themobile station (MS) replies with a PS handover access message 4 to atarget base station system (BSS) 5 which sends physical information 6back to the MS. The MS then sends a PS handover complete message 7 tothe target BSS, which sends this message on to a new serving GPRSsupport node (SGSN) 8. Only once the PS handover is complete does aprocedure for negotiating new parameters begin. This is done by the newSGSN 8 sending an exchange identification (XID) command 9 to the MS andan update packet data protocol (PDP) context request 10 to a gatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 11. The MS sends back an XID response 12 andthe GGSN sends back an update PDP context response 13. The new SGSNstarts to relay downlink logical link protocol data units (PDU's) 14 tothe MS 3 after having received the XID response, so that downlink datatransfer can continue.

The method addresses the problem of the delays caused by having to waituntil after the handover is complete to start the protocols set up, bycarrying out the negotiation steps, at least partially, while theterminal is still connected to the source cell. An example of a networkentity is the SGSN for inter-SGSN handover in 2G systems, but moregenerally for both 2G and 3G systems, the network entity is any corenetwork end-point that requires different protocol parameters. Oneoption for achieving the negotiation steps for the 2G example is for atarget SGSN to pass XID information to a target BSS packed in a targetBSS to source BSS transparent container. An XID command is included in aPS handover request from the target SGSN to the target BSS, then packedinto the target to source transparent container which is passed viamessages to the source BSS where it is unpacked and sent in the PShandover command.

This is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. A decision ismade by a source BSS 20 to perform A/Gb mode PS handover (where an MS 21is connected to a core network via GERAN and the Gb interface). A PShandover required message 22 is sent to an old SGSN 23 which passes on aprepare PS handover request message 24 to a new SGSN 25 which transfersthe PDP contexts. The new SGSN sends a PS handover request 26 to atarget BSS 27 including an XID command, which has the effect ofreserving radio resources in the target base station controller (BSC).The target BSS 27 returns a PS handover request acknowledge 28 to thenew SGSN 25 with the XID command packed in a target to sourcetransparent container which is passed via a new SGSN to old SGSN preparehandover response message 29 and an old SGSN to a source BSS PS handovercommand 30 to the source BSS 20. Here the XID command is unpacked andsent to the MS in the PS handover command 31. On receipt of the preparePS handover response message 29, the old SGSN 23 may start bi-casting ofdata to the new SGSN.

A further optimisation is possible by providing a mechanism for the XIDresponse message to be sent to the target SGSN whilst the mobile station(MS) is still in the source cell. The MS responds to the XID commandsent in the PS handover command by sending a new message on the radiointerface called “PS XID Response”. This message is passed on to thesource SGSN in a new BSS GPRS protocol (BSSGP) message also called “PSXID Response” and then relayed back to target SGSN via a new GPRStunnelling protocol (GTP) message called “Relay XID Response”. Once thetarget SGSN has a satisfactory XID response, downlink LLC PDUs that mayhave been relayed from the source SGSN can be sent towards the targetcell. By delaying the start time for the MS to access the target cell inthe PS handover command, the extra PS service interruption time causedby the XID negotiation procedure can be reduced to less than one roundtrip time (MS to SGSN and back) and possibly reduced to zero dependingon how long the MS is able to remain in the source cell.

An example of this optimisation is described with respect to FIG. 3. Inthis case an XID response message is sent to the target SGSN 25 whilstthe MS 21 is still in the source cell. GPRS tunnelling protocol (GTP)packets are sent from a GGSN 32 to the old SGSN 23 and from there thepackets are relayed to the new SGSN 25. The relayed packets are sentover allocated logical link control (LLC) and radio link control/mediumaccess control (RLC/MAC) entities. When a handover is required, the oldSGSN 23 sends a PS handover command 33 to the source BSS 20 and thesource BSS sends on a PS handover command 34 to the MS 21. The PShandover command 34 includes an XID command with LLC and SNDCPparameters. The MS sends back a PS XID response 35 to the source BSS,which sends the response on to the old SGSN, including XID responses.The old SGSN 23 forwards a relay XID response 36 to the new SGSN 25, sothat downlink data transfer can continue. The remainder of the PShandover steps continue in the usual way, i.e. the MS 21 sends a PShandover access message 37 to the target BSS 27, the target BSS sendsback physical information 38 to the MS and the MS indicates to thetarget BSS that the PS handover is complete. The PS handover completemessage 39 is send on to the new SGSN 25 to finish the procedure.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understoodthat variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit andscope of the invention covered by the claims which may include thephrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression thatmeans one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding inSuperguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).

1. A method for a packet switched handover in a mobile communicationsystem comprising a terminal, a source node and an old network entity;and a destination node and a new network entity, the method comprising:negotiating protocol parameters for the destination node in order tohandover a new network entity, by communicating the protocol parametersfrom the new network entity to the old network entity and the sourcenode; communicating the protocol parameters from the source node overthe radio interface to the terminal whilst the terminal is stillconnected to the source node; and completing the packet switchedhandover after the terminal receives the protocol parameters, such thatservice interruption on handover is reduced.
 2. A method according toclaim 1, wherein negotiating protocol parameters comprises including anexchange identification data command in a packet switched handoverrequest.
 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the destination nodeis a target base station and the source node is a source base station;and the exchange identification data command is packed in a target tosource transparent container at the target base station, transferred tothe source base station in the container, unpacked and sent in a packetswitched handover command to the terminal.
 4. A method according toclaim 1, wherein negotiating protocol parameters comprises including anexchange identification data command in a packet switched handovercommand and continuing downlink data transfer before the packet switchedhandover is complete.
 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a packetswitched exchange identification response is sent from the terminal to asource base station and thence to the source node; and relayed to thedestination node, such that downlink data transfer continues.
 6. Amethod according to claim 3, wherein a start time for the terminal toaccess a target cell containing the destination node is delayed via thepacket switched handover command.
 7. A method according to claim 5,wherein a start time for the terminal to access a target cell containingthe destination node is delayed via the packet switched handovercommand.